Jason Winderlich impresses in Essendon pre-season

As the Bombers welcome back several big names for Tuesday night's NAB Challenge clash against Port Adelaide, there's one, in particular, who has caught the eye of Essendon assistant coach Nathan Bassett.

An injury free Jason Winderlich has impressed over summer, with the clever forward keen to build on a 2013 campaign where he managed 12 matches, having been restricted to a combined six matches in the previous two seasons because of injury.

In the games he did play last season, Winderlich's value was obvious. He ranked in the above average category for a general forward in disposals, forward 50 marks, goals, score assists and score involvements while ranking elite for uncontested possessions and marks.

He was the inside-50 target 29 times, with the Bombers scoring 69 per cent of the time they delivered to him - ranked No.1 of the top 100 targets in the AFL.

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While Winderlich is a team player, a strong season individually would increase his value as a free agent at the end of the year - should a new deal not be announced in the meantime.

"He's got great speed. He's probably been held back by injury over his career, more than anything from people actually getting to see how good he is," Bassett said.

"It would be great for him to play 18-plus games in a season, so that people could appreciate what a good player he is."

As the Bombers rejig their forward line, with Stewart Crameri now at the Western Bulldogs, Michael Hurley in defence and Jake Carlisle and Joe Daniher becoming key marking targets, Winderlich and former Cat Paul Chapman will have an important role to fill at ground level.

Chapman steps out against the Power at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night for his first game with his new club.

“We'll have some good finishers in our forward line and some good leadership for our young forwards," Bassett said.

"Chappy's form pre-season has been great."

Skipper Jobe Watson, Dustin Fletcher and Brendon Goddard, the latter having managed a calf injury, will also have their first serious hit outs of the new season, having bypassed last week's one-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns.

"We are probably going in as strong as we can at the moment - it's good to see Jobe out there," Bassett said.